Alice Maxine "Max" Hackler, 89, of Drexel, Missouri, was restored to health when she was called home to Heaven on Sunday, October 31, 2021.  Funeral services were held  Saturday, November 6, 2021 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. Burial in the Everett Cemetery, Archie, MO. Contributions may be made to the Everett Cemetery, Drexel School Foundation, or the Archie PTO.

Maxine "Max" was born January 9, 1932 to Harry Edmond and Helen Leona (Atkinson) Burchett.  She walked to the Rocky Point School for her early education before attending high school at Archie, graduating in 1950 as the Valedictorian of her class.  She married her high school sweetheart, Thomas Edward "Bud" Hackler on August 16, 1952, joining him at Fort Polk, Louisiana while he finished his tour duty in the Army, returning to Cass County in 1953 where she lived for the rest of her life. To this union, three children were born.

Max worked diligently to get rural water for Water District #12 and served on the water board for over 25 years, serving as treasurer. She also served on the Everett Cemetery Board, serving as secretary and treasurer. She worked countless elections as a presiding judge and felt voting was a responsibility.  However, her family knew it was best not to discuss politics with her.  She was often volunteering and made noodles for the church Thanksgiving dinner, overseeing the cooking.  Max was a huge supporter of the Archie School and she loved high school basketball.  She could be found front-row-center-court with her fellow fans.  She disliked football, but volunteered to  pop  popcorn in the concession stand.  She stayed loyal to her alma mater until she had grandchildren and great-grandchildren who attended Drexel and she donned her first "Bobcat" shirt.

She was a meticulous seamstress and enjoyed her "fancy work".  She kept her mind and hands busy assembling intricate Christmas stockings with sequins, tiny beads and numerous parts – at first just for family – and then she started selling them.  She made clothes, patched jeans, performed alterations, hemmed prom dresses and sewed patches and medals on letter jackets – all at a very reasonable price.  Even last month she was working on a baby sampler and hemmed her granddaughter's wedding dress.

Max had, and set, high expectations for herself and those around her.  She kept her home, yard and flower beds immaculate and in order.  Her family joked that God had a lot to do in Heaven before Maxine arrived – everything would need to be in order and meet with her approval.

Max loved country music singer, Charley Pride, and saw him several times in concert.  She enjoyed traveling anywhere but she especially enjoyed trips with the "Hackler Kids".  As time and cancer took its toil over the last year, she continued to work her puzzle books and read novels. She cherished phone calls, visits and mail.

Max was outspoken; a person always knew what she thought of them because she'd tell them.  She also made her attitude toward cancer known. When she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2003, she said "I'm gonna fight it to the end".  Even in May, she said, "I'm going down fightin".  And fight she did; her surgeon was amazed at her incredible and remarkable constitution.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Jack.  The legacy Maxine leaves behind is strong.  She is survived by her husband, Bud, of the home; her daughters, Marsha Lynn Stark and Shelley Leann Jacobs (Ronnie), all of Drexel, MO; their families, Ryan and Andrea Stark and son, Logan; Aaron and Haley Stark; Jared and Alycia Jacobs, and their children Easton and Adilynn; Allison Jacobs and fiancée, Daniel Roberts; her son, Thomas Eugene Hackler, Pleasant Hill, MO; his children, Amy, Tom (Kyla), Megan (Justin), Jennifer (Derek), Ashley, and grandchildren, Shane, Shelby, John, Abby, Erick, Brooke, Tom, Korbin, Tayton, Jayanna, Cabriah, Coba and Christopher; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joe  and Barbara Hackler, Archie, and sister-in-law, June Hess, Butler, MO.

She had special friends who were like family:  Randy and Karen Grimes, Shelly Romi, Jacy Bolton and Vi Lawson.